Heat vs. Bobcats: 3 things you need to know

EAST
(1) IND vs. (8) ATL | (2) MIA vs. (7) CHA
(3) TOR vs. (6) BKN | (4) CHI vs. (5) WAS
WEST
(1) SAS vs. (8) DAL | (2) OKC vs. (7) MEM
(3) LAC vs. (6) GSW | (4) HOU vs. (5) POR

The Miami Heat conceded the top seed in the Eastern Conference down the stretch and, as a result, draw a much more difficult opponent in the Charlotte Bobcats. The Bobcats posted the second-best record in franchise history with a 43-39 mark and will look to secure their first ever playoff victory, while the Heat look to take step one en route to a three-peat.

Miami hosts Charlotte on Sunday to open up the seven-game series. Here are the three things you need to know:

These aren't your older brother's Bobcats

We mentioned off the top that this was the second-best Bobcats team in franchise history and there's little arguing that. Charlotte ranked 16th in the league in net rating, basically playing the league to a draw over 82 games. For this franchise, that's a major step forward.

The biggest change has come on the defensive end, where new head coach Steve Clifford improbably created the league's sixth-best defense, allowing just 101.2 points per 100 possessions, even better than Miami's mark. The Bobcats can't score all that well outside of a singular post presence, but Clifford's system and a deep set of wing defenders makes this team a real pain to score on.

The biggest factor? Daring teams to use the mid-range, where points come in the least efficient manner. The result is fewer attempts in the restricted area and fewer corner threes, the best shots on the floor for an offense.

Who guards Al Jefferson?

The Heat signed Greg Oden in the offseason with the hope that he would eventually be useful in a matchup against Roy Hibbert and the Pacers. Well, Miami may need to lean on him earlier, because Al Jefferson is a serious problem.

How big an issue is The First Name In Old School Game? He averaged 21.8 points on 50.9 percent shooting on the year, rates that improved to 24.5 and 53.3 percent, respectively, after the All-Star break. How does he do it? It's all about the restricted area, where Jefferson ranked 14th in total field goals made despite missing nine games.

Chris Bosh may draw the assignment on Jefferson and, while he's an excellent defender, that's probably not the way the Heat would prefer to utilize their rangy big man. Oden, Udonis Haslem, and Chris Andersen will get turns, too, and Jefferson's presence could prevent the Heat from going small as much as they'd like.

Champions 'till they ain't Champions no more

We can say as many nice things as we want about the Bobcats, but the fact remains that the Heat are the two-time defending champions and employ the best basketball player on planet earth.

To wit, despite the Bobcats having a successful season and posing some matchup problems, the Heat still swept them and outscored them by 42 points over four games. Charlotte's defense doesn't seem to have an answer for LeBron James, who averaged 37.8 points against the Bobcats with a ridiculous true shooting percentage of 72.

Charlotte's had a fun season, and they may very well win a playoff game for the first time, but these are the Heat.

Schedule